Mouth cleaner

ABSTRACT

A MOUTH CLEANER COMPRISING A MOUTHPIECE OR A TUBE TO BE INSERTED INTO THE MOUTH AND A CONDUIT PIPE FOR SUPPLYING THE TUBE WITH LIQUID, THE TUBE BEING EQUIPPED AT ONE AND NOZZLES FOR JETTING THE LIQUID INWARD INTO THE MOUTH AND AN AIR INLET FOR MIXING AIR BUBBLES WITH THE LIQUID.

Sept. 20, 1971 TEIJI IGARASHI EI'AL 3,605,734

MOUTH CLEANER 4 Shoots-Shoat 3 Filed Dec. 24, 1968 r flNVliN'I'U/(S el'ares/7f K4 9 J, Aha/0 5 Mn 7 m 6 2 3 n 1 .J 5 6 I 5 .H i "KVIIIIIAI/J i2 W All ll'lllllil m E TTORNE YS Sept. 20, 1971 TEIJI IGARASHI ErAL3,605,73

MOUTH CLEANER Filed Dec. 24, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 2/)?" [gar'ash/ Se t.20, 1971 TEL |GARASH| ETAL 3,605,734

MOUTH CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet, 4

Filed Dec. 24, 1968 s\ \\\\\\\\\\\\iiill m HE Patented Sept. 20, 19713,605,734 MOUTH CLEANER Teiji Igarashi and Kinji Ando, Tokyo, Japan,assignors to Cosmo Denshi Kabushikikaisha (Cosmo ElectronicsCorporation), Tokyo, Japan Filed Dec. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 786,607 Claimspriority, application Japan, Dec. 30, 1967, 42/110,872, 42/110,873 Int.Cl. A61h 9/00 US. Cl. 12866 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mouthcleaner comprising a mouthpiece or a tube to be inserted into the mouthand a conduit pipe for supplying the tube with liquid, the tube beingequipped at one end nozzles for jetting the liquid inward into the mouthand with an air inlet for mixing air bubbles with the liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mouth cleaner,and more particularly to a mouth cleaner which is adapted such thatminute air bubbles are mixed in pressurized fluid when jetted into themouth and supersonic waves, produced when the air bubbles break andhaving effects similar to those given by massage, clean the mouth andprevent tooth decay and the development of alveolar blennorrhea.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide amouth cleaner which, using liquid that contains air bubbles, washes withsupersonic waves the mouth and every nook and corner of teeth andmassages gums to prevent tooth decay and the development of alveolarblennorrhea.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mouth cleaner which isadapted to prevent waste liquid from closing the air inlet and makingthe mixing of air bubbles uncertain and to forbid the liquid to streamin the reverse direction through the air inlet and stain hands when themouthpiece or the tube inserted into the mouth is blocked at its endnozzles with the mouth wall, tongue or gum.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangementdiagram, partly in cross-section, of one example of a mouth cleaneraccording to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one example of theprincipal part of the mouth cleaner according to this invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional views of cleaner; modifiedforms of the principal part of the mouth FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views ofthe principal parts of the mouth cleaner exemplified in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic arrangement diagram, partly in cross-section, ofanother example of the mouth cleaner of this invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one portion of the mouthcleaner shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 schematically shows another example of one unit of the mouthcleaner according to this invention;

FIG. 10A shows the principal part of the unit depicted in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10B is its end view; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a tubular grip of the mouth cleanerinto which the mouthpiece shown in FIG. 10A is screwed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, adescription will be given in connection with one embodiment of thisinvention. Reference numeral 1 indicates a case inside and outside ofwhich are installed various elements of the mouth cleaner. The mouthcleaner of this invention consists of a tubular member 2 which is to beinserted into the mouth and a flexible conduit pipe 3 which suppliesliquid to the tubular member. From the center of a ves sel 4 for liquidinstalled inside the case 1 the tubular member 2 protrudes upwardoutside the case 1. The upper end of a channel b in the middle of theaubular member 2 is closed by a cap 5 and the cap and the tubular memberconstitute an outside pipe 6. Through the space made between the top ofthe wall 2a of the tubular member and the wall 5a of the cap 5 theliquid pushed upward from the tubular member goes out. Such spaces aremade at two points, which form nozzles 7. The nozzles 7 are formedobliquely downward against the axis of the tubular member and the liquidis jetted from the nozzles toward the inside of the mouth. The angle ofthe nozzle 7 to the axis or the central channel of the tubular membercan be widened to the maximum of degrees. Therefore, the liquid willnever be jetted directly toward the throat. The outer channel formedbetween the tubular member 2 and the cap 5 has an opening at the lowerend 6a and the open air comes in freely from there. So when liquid runsupward inside the tubular member 2 as shown by an arrow and is jettedobliquely from the nozzles to the outside, the air is sucked in from thelower opening 6a due to the negative pressure produced inside the outerchannel. This air, when mixed with liquid, forms air bubbles and theliquid containing numerous air bubbles is jetted from the nozzles 7 tothe outside.

It is known that when minute air bubbles contained in liquid becomeextinct, supersonic waves are produced in the liquid and that liquidcontaining supersonic waves has effects similar to those of massage anddoes a very effective washing. Consequently, if the upper part of thetubular member 2 with the cap 5 attached is inserted into the mouth andthe liquid containing air bubbles is jetted toward the inside of themouth, the mouth can be effectively cleaned and at the same time gumsand mouth wall will be treated with massage.

The tubular member 2 is connected with a liquid tank 10 through aconduit pipe 3, a change-over cock 8 and a pump 9. So liquid is suppliedfrom this tank 10. The tank 10 contains either plain water or somemedical liquid. If necessary, an electric heater 12 which can becontrolled by a bimetal 11 is installed inside the tank 10 to keep theliquid at an appropriate temperature. Terminals 13 will be connectedwith a suitable power source.

The tank 10 and the pump 9 are connected with a conduit pipe 14. Theliquid coming from the tank 10 streams to the pump 9, then to a conduitpipe 15 and to the change-over cock 8. The change-over cock 8 operatedby a lever 17 changes the flow of the liquid coming from the pipe 15either to the tubular member 2 through the conduit pipe 3 or back to thetank 10 through another pipe 16. A pipe 18 is to abandon waste liquidfrom the vessel 4.

FIGS. 3 to 6 shows modifications of the principal part of thisinvention, in which similar elements to those in FIG. 2 are identifiedby similar reference numerals.

In FIGS. 3 and S nozzles 7 are directed obliquely upward against theaxis of the tubular member 2 and their openings are locatedsymmetrically on both sides of a central projectile 22 on the uppersurface of the cap 5. On the top surface of the cap 5 are threeprojectiles: one in the center and one each on both sides of the centralone. The central projectile 22 is taller than the other two 23. So ifthe central projectile is held between the lower and the upper teeth,the liquid containing air bubbles will be jetted from the nozzles 7 tothe outer side of the gums. In this case, if the tubular member is heldloosely and the person who holds it shakes his head horizontally, themouth cleaner will massage up to the furthest part of the outside of thegums. In this case the liquid containing air bubbles will be jettedobliquely upward to the sides but will be stopped by the gums and willnot run deep into the throat.

FIGS. 4 and 6 show nozzles 7 directed obliquely downward against theaxis of the tubular member 2. Outside the cap 5 and just below thenozzles 7 there is provided a flange 24. So when the cap is insertedinto the mouth, the inside edge of the flange 24 is held at the innerends of the teeth and the cap 5 is held at predetermined place.Incidentally reference numeral 25 indicates a wall which divides theflow of the liquid into two equal volumes at the upper end of thetubular member 2 for the right and left nozzles.

If the upper end of the tubular member is inserted into the mouth andliquid containing minute air bubbles is jetted from the nozzles of theabove structure toward gums and the inner walls of the mouth, supersonicwaves will be produced inside the mouth as referred to above and havethe effects similar to those given by massage and clean the gums, teeth,etc. Therefore, cleaning with the device of the present inventionprevents the development of alveolar blennorrhea, removes foreignelements caught between teeth and prevents tooth decay. If desired, inorder to let the tubular member 2 rotate Within a limited area, it ispossible to insert the tubular member 2 into a boss 20 of the vessel 4and let the vessel 4 and the tubular member 2 move round by an arm 21.

FIG. 7 schematically shows, partly in cross-section, the arrangement ofanother embodiment of this invention.

The present device consists of a means 9' which gives pressure toWashing liquid and the mouthpiece or the portion 2 to be inserted intothe mouth. The latter is provided with means for supplying air bubblesto the washing liquid when it is jetted into the mouth. A motor pump isone example which provides pressure to the washing liquid. Liquid flowsfrom the tank 16 through a pipe 14' and runs to the mouthpiece 2'through a flexible pipe 15' and a grip 22 equipped with a change-overcock 8'. To mix air bubbles with the washing liquid, the same method asexplained in connection with FIG. 2 is adopted. The mouthpiece 2 iscylinder-shaped and small enough to be movable within the mouth. Thecylinder has inside an inner pipe-shaped room 23. At one end of thecylinder is a channel 24 leading to the inner room 23 and the channel isnarrowed and constitutes a nozzle 7' in the neighborhood where it isconnected with the inner room.

In the neighborhood where the nozzle 7' and the inner room 23 areconnected are holes 611 which communicate with the open air. The openair is introduced into the inner room 23 through these holes. In otherwords, the washing liquid provided by the pump 9' runs through theflexible pipe 15' and fiows into the channel 24 and, when it is jettedfrom nozzle 7' into the inner room 23, the pressure in the neighborhoodwhere the inner room 23 and the nozzle 7 are connected becomes lowerthan that of the atmosphere. Therefore, the air sucked in from the airchannel 6a will be involved in the jetted liquid, pulverized and becomeminute air bubbles in the washing liquid. To jet the liquid containingair bubbles into the mouth, on one side wall 25 of the cylindricalmember 2a a large number of jet nozzles 26- leading from outside to theinner room 23 are drilled open. So the washing liquid is jetted fromthese nozzles 26 into the mouth. Incidentally it is all right that theportions of the walls 25 where these nozzles are not drilled openconstitute an ordinary tooth brush.

The grip 22 is, for example, cylindrically L-shaped and its elbow is tobe screwed into the mouthpiece or the portionwhich is to be insertedinto the mouth.

Inside the grip 22 is a passage 27 which sends washing liquid to themouthpiece 2'. The passage 27 forks off in two 28 and 29. Inasmuch asthe grip 22 is screwed into the cylindrical member 2a, the inner room 23in the cylindrical member 2a and the passage 24 communicate with eachother. While the passage 29 leads to the one end 30 of the grip 22 and,by the flexible pipe 16, communicates with the tank 10' of washingliquid. A change-over cock 8 is installed substantially at right anglesto the passages 28 and 29 and crossing the grip 22 at a proper point.The cock 8' can be operated freely and hermetically to move upward anddownward at right angles to the axis of the grip 22.

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the change-over cock 8'shown in FIG. 7. The cock 8' has two passages 28 and 29' which canalternately communicate with the passages 28 and 29 respectively in thelengthwise direction of the grip. Ordinarily the cock 8' is pushed up bya spring 32 to block the passage 28 and open the passage 2? alone.Consequently the washing liquid in the tank 10" runs through the pump 9and the conduit pipe 15' and the passage 27. Then it runs back to theoriginal tank 10' through the conduits 29, 29' and the conduit pipe 16.

If against the force of the spring, the cock 8 is forced down and itsstopper 33 reaches the cylindrical body 22 of the grip, the passage 29will be blocked and only the passage 28 will be opened. So the washingliquid will run from the tank 10 through the pump 9', the conduit pipe15' and the channels 27, 28 and 28' to the passage 24 inside themouthpiece 2'. When the washing liquid is jetted at high speed from thenozzle 7 made at the end of the channel 24 into the inner room 23 insidethe cylindrical member 2a the air sucked in from the air inlets 6a willturn to minute air bubbles and mix with the washing liquid, which inturn will be jetted from jet openings 26 toward the walls of the mouth25. Though FIG. 8 shows two channels 28 and 29' in the cock 8 whichalternately communicate with channels 28 and 29 in FIG. 7, it ispossible to reduce the number of channels to one and yet the one channelwill easily perform the same function as explained above. Incidentallyit is permissible to use any fluoride compound as the Washing liquid andto replace the air by oxygen. Moreover, if city water is used as thewashing liquid, the pump 9' can be done away with.

FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of another embodiment of the presentinvention. The present device consists of a tubular grip 34 and amouthpiece or a portion 35 to be inserted into the mouth. The latter caneasily be screwed into the former at one end. In other words, themouthpiece is detachable. The other end of the tubular grip 34 isconnected with another pipe 37 such as rubber one. The mouthpiece 35 hasa central channel 38 running parallel with the axis of the mouthpieceand the channel has an opening 40 at its end portion 39. The tubulargrip 34 has also a channel 41 running in the direction of its axis,which communicates hermetically with the channel 38 of the mouthpiece 35when the latter is screwed in. Thus, the water or washing liquid fromthe conduit pipe 37 is jetted from the opening at the end of themouthpiece.

In the present embodiment, a flange 42 is formed in or provided to thetubular grip 34 or the mouthpiece 35. The reason is as follows: if therewere no flange, when the end portion 39 of the mouthpiece 35 is heldupward, the fluid jetted will run along the mouthpiece 35 and thetubular grip 34 and will eventually wet users hand or sleeve. If aflange 42 is attached, the waste fluid that may run along the mouthpiece35 will be stopped by the flange 42 and drip from its rim causing nowetting to hand or sleeve.

In the above embodiment, the tubular grip 34 and the mouthpiece 35 aretwo separate things and constitute an integral body only when they arejoined to each other by screwing. But they can be manufactured as oneintegral body. In this case, the mouthpiece 35 will have a centralchannel 38 and along with it will be made an air inlet 43 and its oneend will be opened in the neighborhood of the opening 40 of the channel38. The other end 44 of the air inlet 43 will be opened to the open air.

If, coming through the central channel 38, the water or washing fluid isjetted forcefully from the end opening 40, it will lower the pressure inthe neighborhood of the opening 40 and the air will be sucked in fromthe opening 44, pass through the channel 43 and will be mixed with thewater or the washing fluid at the opening 40. When the air bubbles dieout in the mouth supersonic waves are produced there and clean theinside of the mouth and massage teeth gums. Incidentally, it is betterif the end portion 39 of the mouthpiece 35 is bent relative to the axisof the mouthpiece at a certain angle, for the bend will prevent the jetstream going direct to the throat.

Moreover, it is recommendable to install a flange 45 at the opening 44at the basis of the air inlet 43. For, even if it streams down alongmouthpiece, the waste fluid will be stopped by the flange 45 and dropfrom its rim. So in no case will the fluid cross over the flange 45 andclose the air inlet 43 by covering the opening 44 at the basis of theair inlet 43.

Consequently, thanks to the flange 45 the air will freely be sucked inand the creation of air bubbles is assured, which have the effect ofcleaning the inside of the mouth and massaging it. Moreover, this flange45, being placed in parallel with the flange 42 mentioned before,assures a better joint function. For, if in the course of the use of thepresent mouth cleaner of this invention the jet nozzle 40 is blockedcompletely or partly by the inner wall of the mouth, gum or tongue, thestream of the washing fluid from the central channel 38 will run backinstead of being jetted into the mouth, to the air inlet 43 and there isa fear that it will be jetted from the opening 44 at the basis of theair inlet 43. But even if it is jetted from here, the force of theliquid being jetted :will be reduced by clashing against the flange 42and will drip from the rim of the flange.

Therefore, in this case, too, the defects of the liquid being sprayed tohands, arms or any other part of the body will effectively beeliminated. Incidentally in the device of this invention, if a propercock is installed in the tubular grip 34, it will become easy to add orreduce or stop the fluid pressure by simply adjusting the rotation by athumb.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may beeflected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of thisinvention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A mouth cleaner comprising:

a tubular member to be inserted into a mouth, said tubular member havingan axial passage extending to nozzle means at one end thereof forjetting a stream of liquid into the mouth, said tubular member havingair inlet means for producing air bubbles in said stream, said air inletmeans having a channel with one end opened to the open air and the otherend being opened adjacent to said nozzle means so that air is suckedinto the one end through the channel and out of the other end into thestream of liquid;

a source of liquid at a desired pressure;

conduit means interconnecting said source of liquid to the passage ofthe tubular member and including a tubular grip portion to which saidtubular memher is coupled;

first flange means attached to said tubular grip and spaced from the oneend of the channel of said air inlet means whereby a users hand orsleeve is prevented from being drenched with the waste fluid from saidnozzle means; and

second flange means attached to said tubular member and located adjacentto the one end of the channel of said air inlet means and between saidnozzle means and said one end of the channel so that waste liquid isprevented from being sucked into said one end of said channel to closesaid air inlet means.

2. A mouth cleaner as defined in claim 1,

said tubular member being detachably coupled to said tubular grip andhaving said nozzle means formed at a distal end thereof and said firstflange being formed at an end adjacent said grip;

said second flange being spaced from said first flange to form a spacetherebetween;

the other end of said air inlet means opening between said flanges.

3. A mouth cleaner as defined in claim 2,

said air inlet channel extending axially of said tubular member and theother end of said channel opening at a side of said second flange meansconfronting said first flange means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,658,645 2/1928 McGee 239530X2,087,511 7/1937 Gould 128229UX 3,214,775 11/1965 Murov et al. 12866UX3,496,933 2/1970 Lloyd 4 12866 LAWRENCE W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner

